Russell Brand accused of 'grabbing woman and dragging her to toilet'

Comedian and actor is facing allegations of sexually assaulting a woman by touching her breasts and indecently assaulting another by grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet, court documents show. The 49-year-old was charged last month with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.

The comic is due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Friday. Brand is accused of incidents between 1999 and 2005 in Bournemouth and the Westminster area of London. He is accused of raping a woman in 1999 and allegedly groped the breasts of another woman and forced her to perform oral sex in 2004. A fourth alleged victim says Brand sexually assaulted her by touching in 2005.

In a video posted on X after he was charged, the comedian said: "I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I'm incredibly grateful for that."

He continued: "I've always told you guys that when I was young and single before I had a wife and family, who are there just out of shot. I was a fool, man, I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord.

"I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile but what I never was, was a rapist.

"I've never engaged in non-consensual activity, and I pray that you can see that in my eyes."

He concluded: "Of course I'm now gonna have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I'm incredibly grateful for that. In the meantime you lot, stay free and we will be continuing to discuss this matter, praise the Lord."

Brand currently splits his time between the US and his home in Henley-on-Thames.

Detectives began investigating Brand in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations, which followed reporting by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches.